Scrapbook News and Review 12 Tags of Christmas

Scrapbook News and Review is running their 12 Tags of Christmas.  Each day one of the very talented staff members at SNR creates a gorgeous tag.  Some of them even got their kids involved and they created a project as well.  If you are signed up to receive the newsletter then you are very aware of the beautiful tags that have been created so far.  I am so honored to work with these talented and beautiful people.  If you haven't already, hop over to SNR by clicking HERE and sign up for the newsletters, check out the forums or subscribe to receive the monthly magazine.  Now onto my tag as well as the tag that my kiddo made!!

I know it looks like a lot, but it really isn't.  Have you ever really paid attention to what you use when you make something? OMGosh, it blows my mind every time!  Here is the list:

• Sheet Music - torn up into pieces because we are going to make a collage!
• Multi Matte Medium
• Ranger Paint Dabbers: White and Pool
• Distress Ink: Broken China, Old Paper and Black Soot
• Ranger Embossing Tinsel - Bridal
• Utility Knife, Paper Distresser, Paint Brushes
• K and Co. Holiday Sampler Pack
• Pink Paislee Christmas ATC
• Tag
• Ribbon, Lace
• Pearls

 Step 1

I love the song Imagine by John Lennon.  I downloaded and printed the sheet music for the song and then tore it up into pieces by hand.  Get your tag, your paint brush and your Multi Medium.  Start your collage by brushing some multi medium on your tag, I worked in sections.  Then brush some on the back of each piece as you lay it down on the tag.  Continue this process working your way to cover the entire tag.  Make sure to overlap your pieces a you go.  I also brushed some multi medium over the top when I was done just to make sure that none of the pieces began to lift up on me.   It doesn't matter if some of the pieces hang over the edge because you will trim that off later.

Once you have finished, get your heat gun and go over your tag.  I heated it long enough for the top of the tag to dry to the touch.  Flip it over and give the back a little bit of heat.  It will try to curl up on you.  Just flip it over and apply some pressure to flatten it back out.  The tag will still feel a bit damp, but the top will be dry.  At this point begin to work the tag between your fingers by bending it around and making wrinkles in the tag.  This will give it a nice worn look.  Now flip the tag over and using your utility knife trim off the excess paper.

Step 2

The top of the tag will have a slick finish to it from the multi medium.  I used a bit of light sanding paper and very gently went over the tag in a few places to rough up the surface.  Take your Old Paper Distress Ink and go over your tag.  Next use the Broken China and go over the edges as well as hitting some of the wrinkles.  I also used the Black Soot and just hit a few places on the edges.  Give this a little hit with your heat gun.

Step 3

Get a few stiff bristled paint brushes and your Ranger Paint Dabbers.  You are going to dry brush some paint over the top to soften it a bit.  To dry brush you place a small amount of paint on the end of your brush.  Using a paper towel brush off some of the paint until the paint coming off looks like it is soft and powdery.  Now begin to dry brush the paint onto your tag.  I used White and Pool paint colors.

After the paint has dried, cover the tag in embossing ink and then lightly sprinkle the Bridal Embossing Tinsel over the tag.  This embossing powder is really pretty.  It is clear but has fine glitter in it and gives everything a soft, shimmery glow.

Step 4

Now we are going to put everything together!!  Begin by gluing the white ribbon to the top and bottom of the tag.  Next take your lace and glue it to the backside of the tag so that it is hanging down at the bottom. I chose to add a blue cardstock border from the K and Co. Holiday Sampler Pack.  I put this at the top under my ribbon.  I love pearls and it seems like I HAVE to add them to everything.  I used a very thin string of pearls to add a little elegance to both the top and bottom of my tag.  I used foam squares to glue down my ATC to give it a little dimension and added a red transparent Dec 25 label to it.  I had some really fun ribbon that came with an order I received and used that to finish it off!

Now for the tag my daughter made..........

My daughter is 8 and loves to be creative.  She loves to draw and sew.  If you are anything like I am, you have a stash pile of "extras".  I like to make flowers and some of my own embellishments.  Some times I make more than actually gets used on my project.  She decided to go through my stash and pulled out a Christmas tree and a snowy poinsettia. 

She wanted to create an outdoor scene for her tree.  She picked out the patterned paper and wanted to coordinate light blue card stock with it.  She told me that she wanted to have rolling hills behind the tree.  Using a scrap piece of paper I showed her how to use an ink blending tool.  I am so proud to say that she did the inking on this tag all by herself!!!  She's a natural!!!   She added a snowflake sticker, the Earth in the shape of a heart with a little bingo card behind it that says Wish.  The pink ribbon is so fresh and funky.  I absolutely adore this tag!!!  She decided that she is going to give this to her teacher for Christmas.   I'm so proud of her.  She did and AMAZING job.

Thanks for stopping by!!!!